the lyrics or the music first... that is the question
DESCRIPTION
As a song writer, do you ever ask yourself whether to write the music or the lyrics first? Both have obvious benefits, but find out what I do and why.TRANSCRIPT
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
WHAT TO WRITE FIRST… THE LYRICS OR THE MUSIC…? THAT
IS THE QUESTION…
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
AT LEAST, THIS IS A QUESTION THAT RESONATES A LOT WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE. IT IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR, SINCE BOTH OPTIONS WILL REALLY
CHANGE YOUR SONG.
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
IF YOU’RE STARTING THE SONG WRITING PROCESS FOR A NEW SONG – ALL THINGS EQUAL –STARTING WITH MUSIC WILL
GIVE YOU A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT RESULT AS OPPOSED
TO STARTING WITH LYRICS.
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
JUST TO BE CLEAR:
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
MUSIC – THE INSTRUMENTS AND THE MELODY FOR THE
VOICE
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
LYRICS – THE ACTUAL WORDS OF THE SONG
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
IN ORDER TO BE COMPLETELY OPEN WITH YOU, I HAVE NO
PREFERENCE AS TO WHICH ONE YOU CHOOSE TO DO; YOU CAN EVEN MOVE BACK AND FORTH
FROM ONE TO ANOTHER;
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
START WITH A HOOK, FIND A FEW LINES, AND ALTERNATE UNTIL YOUR SONG FINISHES.
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
BUT FOR ME, THE APPROACH THAT SEEMS TO WORK FOR
ME IS MUSIC FIRST, BUT WITH A BIG DISCLAIMER.
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
THIS DISCLAIMER WILL SOUND LIKE A CONTRADICTION, OR A PARADOX, BUT FOR NOW I’LL TELL YOU WHY I START WITH
THE MUSIC FIRST:
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
MUSIC IS REALLY THE PALLET FOR THE WORDS TO LIE UPON, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE EVERY SINGLE PART OF YOUR
MELODY.
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR SHELL, YOU CAN FILL IT WITH ANY
COLOUR, TEXTURE, OR FLAVOR THAT YOU WISH (THE LYRICS).
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
YOU’RE ABLE TO MATCH THE (PRE-DETERMINED) LEVEL OF ENERGY FOR EACH PART OF
YOUR SONG.
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
USING A POWERFUL LINE DURING A POWERFUL PART OF
THE SONG
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
USING A MORE SUBTLE LINE DURING A PART WITH LESS
ENERGY
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
THERE’S NO NEED TO CHANGE YOUR LYRICS AFTERWARDS (IF YOU BUILD THE LYRICS FIRST,
YOU OFTEN NEED TO CHANGE THINGS AROUND IN ORDER TO
MAKE IT SOUND RIGHT)
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
I’LL KNOW THE LEVELS OF INTENSITIES AND WHERE TO
PUT THEM IN MY MUSIC
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
I’LL BE ABLE TO RE-CREATE THE EXACT EMOTION I WANT
THROUGH MUSIC
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
THE SONG WILL FIT BETTER IN THE ALBUM, SINCE THE
SONG’S THEME WILL CONTINUE FROM THE
PREVIOUS SONG, AND WILL BE CONTINUED BY THE NEXT
SONG
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
BASICALLY, I’M TELLING A STORY THROUGHOUT THE ALBUM, AND EACH SONG
PLAYS A ROLE. IT ONLY WORKS WHEN YOUR SONGS ARE IN
ORDER
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
SO MY TIP FOR YOU IS TO FIGURE OUT THE MEANING OF
YOUR SONG BEFORE YOU START WRITING THE MUSIC, WHICH YOU’LL DO BEFORE
WRITING THE LYRICS OF YOUR SONG.
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
OF COURSE, WHILE YOU’RE WRITING THE MUSIC, YOU’LL
HAVE LYRICAL IDEAS, SO WRITE THEM DOWN WHEN
THEY COME UP.
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
TYPICALLY, WHEN I FINISH THE MUSIC OF ONE SONG, I’LL
HAVE 20-30% OF THE LYRICS FINISHED.
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
THIS MAKES THE FINAL TASK EASIER SINCE I WANT TO
SIMPLY PICK UP THE LYRICS WHERE THEY ARE, AND FINISH
THEM.
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
THE ORIGINAL POST: WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COM/UNCATEGORIZED/WRITE-FIRST-LYRICS-MUSIC-QUESTION
/
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COMBy: Dan Amerson
IN ORDER TO FIND EVERYTHING YOU’LL EVER
NEED IN THE AREA OF WRITING GREAT SONGS:
WWW.WRITEYOURNEXTHITSONG.COM